Log turning device



Jan. 16, 1951 l A. PARKS 2,538,163

LOG TURNING DEVICE Filed Nov. 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

' U %%M6WYMM A. PARKS LOG TURNING DEVICE Jan. 16, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1947 Patented Jan. 16, 1951 Adolphus Parks, Soulsbyville, Calif. Application November 14, 1947, Serial No. 786,124

This invention relates to sawmill equipment, and more particularly to a log turning device for sawmills.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device for turning a log in a sawmill during the sawing operations on said log, said device being very simple in construction, easy to operate, efiicient in performance, and

being positive in action.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved log turning apparatus for sawmills which functions without manual or mechanical assistance of any kind to rotate a log from a first position with respect to the head blocks to a second position wherein a new cut may be made, the operation being performed in a rapid and efficient manner, and the apparatus being very sturdy in construction and adapted to handle logs over a widerange of diameters.

Further objects and advantages of the inven- 3 Claims. (01. 14s 103) tion will become apparent from the following dc:

scription and claims, and from the accompanyin drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a log-turning apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1."

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational detail view, GO

partly in cross-section, of the log-turning hook member employed in the apparatus of Figure 1. Referring to the drawings, designates the supporting bed of a sawmill,-said bed being provided with conventional rails, such as shown at l2 on which a carriage I3 is movably supported. Carriage I3 is provided with conventional head blocks, not shown, against which a log, such "as shown at M, is held during a sawing operation thereon. In squaring a log, it is necessary to turn the log after one cut to a position rotated 90 degrees from the first position in order to make the next squaring cut thereon. The structure presently to be described performs this turning operation.

Secured to bed I at longitudinally spaced intervals are aligned bearing brackets IS in which is rotatably supported a longitudinal shaft |5. Secured to said shaft are respective upstanding parallel arms l1, l1, and pivotally connected to the top ends of the arms l1, H are the respective skid members l8, l8, said skid members being movably supported on a longitudinal abutment l9 provided adjacent the bed -Suitable means, not shown, is provided for independently rotating shaft l5, as required by the operation of the 2 apparatus. The upper portion of the vertical wall of bed I I is notched at 20, 20 to provide clearance for the arms l1, l1 when the shaft |5 rotates in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure Z.

Secured to shaft l5 intermediatethe arms H, H is a knee member designated generally at 2|,

comprising spaced parallel arms 22, '22 secured to said shaft and connected at their free ends by a pin 23. Rotatably connected to pin 23 is a curved arm 24 to the free end of which is secured a depending conical spur 25. Pivotally connected to the rear portion of arm 24 at an opening 26 in said rear portion spaced below the opening 21 therein which receives the pin 23 is the bifurcated end 28 of a rearwardly extending bar 29.

The lower edge of bar 29 is formed with rack 'teeth 3|] which are in mesh with a gear 3| carried on a horizontal shaft 32. Shaft 32 is journaled in respective inner arms 33, 33 pivotally secured to a pair of upstanding supports 34, 34

and in outer arms 35, 35 pivotally secured to a pair of outer upstanding supports 36, 36. The pivotal connections of the arms 33, 33 to the supports 34, 34 and of the arms 35, 35 to the supports 36, 3B are on a common horizontal axis parallel to shaft 32. Connecting the top ends of the arms 33, 33 is a pin 31 and journaled on this pin between said arms is a flanged roller 38 which overlies and is in rolling engagement with the top edge of bar 29. Independent means, not

shown is provided for rotating shaft 32.

Assuming that the parts are as shown in full line view in Figure 2, when clockwise torque is -applied to shaft 32 bar 29 is moved forward-1y by gear 3|. This first rotates hook arm 24 counterclockwise to an elevated position with respect to knee member 2| and then rotates knee member 2| clockwise, bringing the elevated spur 25 over the surface of the log I4 which is to be turned. The torque applied to shaft 32 is then reversed.

The weight of arm 22 and the fact that knee member 2| is at this time in a substantially vertical position causes the arm 26 to first swing clockwise before knee member 2| moves counter-clockwise responsive to retractile force on bar 29, causing the spur 25 to penetrate the surface of log l4 and causing the parts to assume the positions shown in dotted view in Figure 2. By continuing the reverse rotation of shaft 32 the log is rolled onto the skid members l8, l8 and at the same time the spur 25 frees itself from the log and returns to its normal position between the knee elements 22, 22 shown in full line view in Figure 2. By then rotating shaft |5 clockwise, the knee mem- 3 ber 2| pushes the log back against the head blocks on the carriage l3. The log is then ready for the next squaring cut.

The pivotal connections of the arms 33, 33 and 35, 35 with the respective supports 34, 34 and 36, 36 allow the shaft 32 to oscillate as required by the varying angular positions of bar 29 during the above described log turning operation. Shaft 32 is left free to rotate when torque is applied to shaft l5, and shaft I5 is left free to rotate when torque is applied to shaft 32.

After the log has been moved by knee member 2| into position for the next squaring cut, as above described, shaft I5 is rotated counter-clockwise to its normal position, so that knee member 2| is also returned to its normal position, shown in full line view in Figure 2. This prepares the apparatus for the next log-turning operation.

While a specific embodiment of a log turning apparatus for sawmills has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sawmill, a supporting bed, a log carriage movably positioned on said bed and adapted to support a log thereon for longitudinal cutting of the log, a knee member pivotally connected to said bed for swinging movement in a plane transverse to the bed, a hook member pivotally secured to the free end of said knee member for swinging movement in said transverse plane, said knee member being formed to receive at times the forward end of the hook member, longitudinal support means adjacent said bed, a pair of arms pivoted to said support means for rotation in said transverse plane, a longitudinal shaft journaled in said arms, a gear carried on the shaft between the arms, a rack bar meshing with said gear and pivotally secured to said hook member sub-adjacent to the connection of the hook memberto the knee member, and a flanged roller rotatably secured to the upper portions-of said arms and engaging the top edge of the rack bar, whereby a forward thrust will be applied to said rack bar when said shaft is rotated in one direction and a retractile force will be applied to said rack bar when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, said forward thrust acting to first swing the hook member upwardly with respect to the knee member and then inwardly and over the bed, and the retractile force on the rack bar acting to cause the hook member to engage and rotate a log on said carriage.

2. In a sawmill, a supporting bed, a log carriage movably positioned on said bed and adapted to support a log thereon for longitudinal cutting of the log, a knee member pivotally connected to said bed for swinging movement in a plane transverse to the bed, a hook member pivotally secured to the free end of said knee member for swinging movement in said transverse plane, said knee member being formed to receive at times the forward end of the hook member, a longitudinal support means adjacent said bed, a pair of arms pivoted to said support means for rotation in said transverse plane, a longitudinal shaft journaled in said arms, a gear carried on the shaft between the arms, and a rack bar meshing with said gear and pivotally secured to said hook member subjacent to the connection of the hook member to the knee member, whereby a forward thrust will be applied to said rack bar when said shaft is rotated in one direction and a retractile force will be applied to said rack bar when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, said forward thrust acting to first swing the hook member upwardly with respect to the knee member and then inwardly and over the bed, and the retractile force on the rack bar acting to cause the hook member to engage and rotate a log on thecarriage.

3. In a sawmill, a supporting bed, a log carriage movably positioned on said bed and adapted to support a log thereon for longitudinal cutting of the log, a knee member pivotally connected to said bed for swinging movement in a plane transverse to the bed, a hook member pivotally secured to the free end of said knee member for swinging movement in said transverse plane, longitudinal support means adjacent said bed, a pair of arms pivoted to said support means for rotation in said transverse plane, a longitudinal shaft journaled in said arms, a gear carried on the shaft between thearms, and a rack bar meshing with said gear and pivotally secured to said hook member subjacent to the connection of the hook member to the knee member, whereby a forward thrust will be applied to said rack bar when said shaft is rotated in one direction and a retractile force will be applied to said rack bar when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, said forward thrust acting to first swing the hook member upwardly with respect to the knee member and then inwardly and over the bed, and the retractile force on the rack bar acting to cause the hook member to engage and rotate a log on said carriage.

ADOLPHUS PARKS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 167,261 Knowlton Aug. 31, 1875 448,591 Simonson Mar. 17, 1891 1,710,031 Pelton Apr. 23, 1929 

